Officers should be honored for service

We have an honor guard. Oh, ours is not like the president’s body guards that are always at his elbow or close by.

However, we do see our honor guards pass by us frequently in their cars while on duty. I’m talking about the law enforcement officers in our city, our state and our country. But they are only our honor guards on one condition - that we citizens do what is good, right and just in our country. Officers care about us, they care about our safety.

We have seen this firsthand here in Zanesville, particularly when the exotic animals were loose. Sheriff Matthew Lutz and the other peace officers shot and killed many of these animals within 24 hours instead of ignoring their concern for us and our safety. Let us show our appreciation for our officers by being concerned for their safety.

Over the past year or two, the officers of our great country have been targeted and brutally murdered. Let’s stop that right now and protect our peace officers. Just as our officers are concerned for our safety, we should be concerned for their safety. Perhaps the biggest problem we have is not knowing our officers personally.

Often, whenever we citizens spot a police car there is an immediate reaction of concern that we might make a mistake while they are watching. While some fear of this is appropriate in these occasions, we should not let that be the first thought when we think of officers. Getting to know them will help alleviate some of those concerns.

Police care for us and they care for our safety. Today, let’s return the favor. Let’s show them we care equally for them as well. It’s not easy for them to do what they do or to see what they see. Let’s get to know our officers and let’s let them know we care.

Ida Howell

Zanesville

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